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2019 Lincoln MKC problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
82%
99 of 122 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

82% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2019 Lincoln MKC are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 98% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2019 Lincoln MKC have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 99 of 122 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Lincoln MKC concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (82%), and the largest group is filed under engine (91). For comparison, the 2018 scores 78%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
99
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
122
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
1 crashes · 0 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE91 · 75%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12 · 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER10 · 8%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7 · 6%
BACK OVER PREVENTION7 · 6%
POWER TRAIN6 · 5%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
47%
56 of 131
2016
69%
53 of 80
2017
71%
134 of 191
2018
78%
57 of 74
2019
82%
99 of 122
2020
no data
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Other luxury SUVs with no elevated signal in 2019

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING10/01/2026
See attached document for complaint
ENGINE09/29/2026
There is a coolant leak going into the cylinder 3 causing misfire and overheating and engine shutoff Car shut down and locked up on the highway and I had to coast to the shoulder and get it towed. The ford dealer said it needs an engine replacement specifically a long block assembly estimated at 10k. It was inspected…
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE09/27/2026
I am filing an urgent safety complaint regarding a severe Ford/Lincoln EcoBoost engine defect, fraudulent recall reporting, and the illegal refusal of repair on my vehicle, which has only around 20,000 miles. Since this vehicle is under an active safety recall, the manufacturer and dealership have a strict legal obliga…

Three of 99 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2019 Lincoln MKC (3)

ENGINE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC vehicles. The battery monitor sensor may short-circuit and overheat, causing a fire in the engine co…
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Tran…
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2019 Lincoln MKC

Questions people ask about the 2019 Lincoln MKC

Does the 2019 Lincoln MKC have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 99 of 122 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Lincoln MKC concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (82%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Lincoln MKC?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2019 Lincoln MKC. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Lincoln MKC years are better?

Among the Lincoln MKC years we track, the 2015 (47%), the 2016 (69%) and the 2017 (71%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (82%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2019 Lincoln MKC?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Lincoln MKC has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.